Celebrate Quote by Rob Sheffield
“In the old days, when a star left a still-thriving hit show, they'd celebrate by killing him or her off. But 'The Office' dispatched Michael Scott in a crueler and more final way: they made him normal. Since we're talking about Michael Scott, 'normal' might be stretching it, obviously.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Rolling Stone, 2005
TV shows often end characters dramatically; 'The Office' ended Michael Scott by making him ordinary, a subtler finality.
In simple terms: Shows kill characters; this one made him normal.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that normalcy can be a powerful narrative ending.
Themes
television
character arcs
normalcy
storytelling
humor
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
observational
When to use this quote
- scriptwriting
- media analysis
- fan discussions
Key Concepts
narrative closure
character development
cultural critique
Questions to Reflect On
- Why does ordinary feel like a cruel ending?
- How does this reflect on societal expectations?
A Different Perspective
Normalcy may feel unsatisfying to some viewers.
![“Well, on a personal level, I would never want to take on a character who didn’t have some redeemable qualities. Even the worst of people, such as Michael Scott in The Office [Carell’s character in the US version of the Ricky Gervais sitcom], have some decent human qualities that you can latch onto.” quote by Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/920/steve-carell-2000_character_well-on-a-personal-level-i-would-never-w_2719286.jpg)
